HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 3/25/1998 - Parks and Recreation Committee � , r
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�" PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
MINUTES
March 25, 1998
Parks Comn.ittee Members : Bill Baird, Chairman; Andy Glab, Steven
Murgatroyd.
Others Present : City Clerk Althoff, Director of Parks and
Recreation Merkel, Jeff Varda, McHenry resident
Parks and Recreation Chairman Alderman Baird called the meeting
to order at 7 : 05 p.m.
RECREATION CENTER CONCEPT PLAN FIRM SELECTION
Chairman Baird noted three Recreational Center Concept Plan
proposals were received from the following selected architectural
f irms;
Burnidge Cassell Associates
Sente & Rubel Architects
Williams Associates Architects, Ltd
It is the responsibility of the Parks and Recreation Committee to
make a recommendation to full council as to which firm should be
� selected to develop the City of McHenry' s Recreation Center
Conceptual Plan. Director Merkel explained once a firm has been
selected negotiations can begin to establish fees . The 1997-98
budget reflects a $20, 000 expenditure for these services . Based
on the materials submitted, staff is recommending the
architectural firm of Sente & Rubel . Some discussion followed.
Aldermen Glab and Murgatroyd concurred with staff' s
recommendation.
Motion by Murgatroyd, seconded by Glab to recommend to full
council the award of contract to the architectural firm of Sente
and Rubel for the development of a Recreational Center Concept
Plan not to exceed $4 , 925 .
Voting Aye : Baird, Glab, Murgatroyd
Voting Nay: None
Absent : None
Motion carried.
It was the consensus of the committee to place this
recommendation on the April 15, 1998 regularly scheduled council
meeting agenda.
McHenry resident Jeff Varda stated as a parent and city resident
� he adamantly supports the development of a recreational center
and offered his assistance and support .
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Parks and Recreation Committee Minutes
� March 25, 1998 ;
Page Two
The committee concurred funding options should not include
increases to the city' s portion of property taxes . Any municipal
bonding funding mechanism should be reimbursable through sales
tax revenues . Alderman Baird noted the cost of constructing the
facility was, in all liklihood, feasible. Council and staff have
expressed concern with operating costs .
In response to Mr. Varda' s inquiry, Director Merkel noted a time
frame of eight months to one year before bid specifications for a
recreational center could be developed. Public input from the
community at-large will also be sought prior to developing any
specifications .
BROOKSIDE PARK EQUIPMENT BIDS AND PURCHASES
Director Merkel explained as part of the Brookside Park
development grant, park equipment costing in excess of $10, 000
must be competitively bid. A list of park items were presented
for committee review. Director Merkel noted bid specifications
are being prepared for all items in excess of $10, 000 . In
response to committee inquiry, Director Merkel noted Smith
Engineering is completing the final engineering for the park' s
utility and playground installation as well as the parking lot
� construction. The firm of Direct Design is developing the
specifications for the concession/storage building and will serve
as the project' s construction manager. Director Merkel noted
although all items over $10, 000 will be bid competitively, a
minimum of three quotes will be obtained for all other items .
Chairman Baird requested Director Merkel contact the Soccer
Federation regarding their offers of assistance for equipment
purchase, etc. Director Merkel noted meetings with this
organization were underway. It was the consensus of the
committee to go forward with the bid specifications for all
Brookside Park equipment in excess of $10, 000 and to obtain a
minimum of three quotes on all other required items.
CONSERVATIION SERVIGES PROPOSAL TO PREPARE LAND ACQUISITION GRANT
FOR PETERSEN FARM PURCHASE
Director Merkel provided a copy of the service contract for
preparation of the land acquisition grant for the Petersen Farm
property with Conservation Services of Woodstock, Illinois . The
Committee should make a recommendation for full council
consideration and action. Some discussion followed. Director
Merkel stated the focus of this grant application will be on the
historic value of this property to the McHenry Community.
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� Motion by Glab, seconded by Murgatroyd, to recommend to full
council the award of a service contract to Conservation Services
of Woodstock, Illinois to prepare the land acquisition grant for
the purchase of Petersen Farm not to exceed $2, 000 .
Voting Aye : Baird, Glab, Murgatroyd
Voting Nay: None
Absent : None
Motion carried.
DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC USE OF HICKORY CREER AND PETERSEN FARM
Director Merkel noted there has been some discussion at staff
level with regard to the public use of Hickory Creek Farm and
Petersen Farm. The Parks and Recreation Committee should begin
preliminary discussion on future use and access to the public.
Director Merkel also noted the completion of the bike path will
increase public traffic to these areas. Some discussion
followed. Director Merkel presented the following suggestions :
-tours of the facilities during the annual Fiesta Days
celebration
-hayrides
-development of a picnic area in conjunction with the bike
path.
A dedication ceremony, planned for this Spring, at the Petersen
Farm property could also incorporate a tour of the Hickory Creek
Farm Barn. The committee discussed the desirability of
� developing a newe five year parks and recreation plan
incorporating development of these sites. Chairman Baird
suggested staff develop and maintain a list of use ideas for
these sites for future reference . Staff concurred.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Pool Staff and Schedule
Director Merkel provided the committee with an update
on the summer part-time help staff hirings . Discussion ensued
regarding the 1998 summer schedule of Knox Pool. Director Merkel
noted the unusually late September 7th Labor Day holiday date and
the difficulty in staffing the pool this long. He explained
college and high school students hired for the summer have
returned to school by the end of August . A lengthy discussion
followed. It was the consensus of the committee to keep the pool
open on a daily basis throughout the month of August until August
30th. If the weather is unusually warm arrangements can be made
to open the pool the weekend of Labor Day, September 5th, 6th and
7th.
Tree City USA
Director Merkel informed the committee he and Tom Schmidt
attended the Tree City USA award program at the Morton Arboretum
on Tuesday, March 24th. Alderman Glab suggested the Tree
Preservation ordinance be resurrected and brought before full
council for consideration. Chairman Baird suggested this item be
� addressed at the next regularly scheduled council meeting under
New Business .
Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting
� March 25, 1998
Page Three
Veteran' s Memorial Park Plaque
Director Merkel informed council a consortium of Veteran' s
organizations has requested a new plaque be placed on the
commerative stone in Veteran' s Park. The original plaque was
donated by representatives of the DAR organization and upon
contact, representatives of this organization have given their
permission to replace the original plaque. The consortium would
like to dedicate the new plaque at the annual Memorial Day
celebration. Some discussion followed regarding preservation
of the old plaque. It was the consensus of the committee to
grant permission to the consortium to replace the existing plaque
and to review the feasibility of preserving the old plaque at a
new site in Veteran' s Park after it' s replacement . Director
Merkel was instructed to obtain cost estimates for the old
plaque' s preservation at that time for committee consideration.
Request for Concession Sales in City Park
Director Merkel informed council a request from the owner of
Julie Ann' s frozen custard service has been received regarding
selling frozen custard at park locations during special events
and when recreational activities (baseball, softball, soccer,
etc) are scheduled. Director Merkel explained, in response to
committee inquiry, this type of request was previously denied
� because of competition with City concessison services . The City
currently offers no soft service custard or ice cream concessions
so no conflict exists . Some discussion followed with regard to
the City' s past attempts to privatize the concession services .
Further discussion occurred regarding financial arrangements . It
was the consensus of the committee to postpone this issue until
further information could be provided. Director Merkel was
instructed to provide the committee with more detailed
information including payment schedules, timeframes, information
from other municipalities and the names of other city licensed
ice cream vendors .
Request for use of Whispering 0aks Park for Easter Egg Hunt
Director Merkel informed the committee a request has been
received from the Interact High School club for use of Fort
McHenry for an Ester Egg hunt on Saturday, April 11 from 11 a.m.
until 3 p.m. Director Merkel noted as this event is a
fundraising effort for the club, a fee would be charged each
participant . City of McHenry ordinance does not permit charging
for use of city parks therefore council must waive this criteria.
Some discussion followed regarding parking restrictions and
limited public access to Fort McHenry. It was the consensus of
the committee to grant the Interact Club of McHenry' s request to
use a city park to conduct an Easter Egg Hunt fund raiser on
April 11, 1998 from 11 a.m. to 3 : 00 p.m. at either Petersen Park
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or Knox Park. Fort McHenry was not a viable site .
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Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting
� March 25, 1998 �
Page Four
Some discussion followed regarding the April 1, 1998 Parks and
Recreation Committee Meeting. The agenda was reviewed and
Director Merkel was instructed to create the agenda supplements .
Chairman Baird noted he had been contacted as to the Parks and
Recreation Department' s interest in obtaining a used electronic
scoreboard at no cost . In addition would the Parks Department
consider a civic organization' s donation of constructing a •
storage/broadcast booth at Petersen Park. Some discussion
followed with regard to installation and maintenance costs in
addition to availability and ease of access .
Alderman Glab inquired as to the availability of statistical data
on non-resident/resident/school district registrations for parks
and recreational programs . Director Merkel informed the
committee these figures were currently being compiled for future
review.
Alderman Murgatroyd requested committee input with regard to
developing a policy dividing park developer donation fees into
two separate funding catagories of Park and Recreation operating
expenses and Recreation Facility Fund. Some discussion followed.
The committee agreed with Alderman Murgatroyd' s recommendation
�, and suggested the Finance Committee determine the percentage
breakdown between the two funds.
Motion by Murgatroyd, seconded by Glab to adjourn the meeting at
8 :45 p.m.
Voting Aye : Baird, Glab, Murgatroyd
Voting Nay: None
Absent : None
Motion carried.
The meeting was adjourned at 8 :45 p.m.
I,��,�- V. �� � - r� -s �
William Baird, Chairman
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